Patient scales

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed is a device for weighing a patient confined in bed by using weight detecting elements or load cells disposed between each of the standard legs of the bed and the floor. The weight detecting elements are positioned in communication with a counting and indicating means for identification of the weight of the patient.

United States Patent [191' Tirkkonen [4 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] PATIENT SCALES [76] Inventor: Erkki Tapio Tirkkonen, Kajavarannantie 3 as. 5, Helsinki 20, Finland [22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 112,111

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 5, 1970 Finland ..316/70 52 U.S.Cl ..177/14 4,177/210 51 lnt.Cl. ..G01g 19/52 58 Field of Search 177 132, 144, 208, 209, 210,

[56] v g References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,323 '8/1967 swersey ..'l77/l44 weight of the patient.

3/1964 Ciavatta ..l77/211 X 3,060,732 10/1962 Corry 3,123,166 3/1964 Schellentrager.....'.....= I

Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

' Attorney-Kurt Kelman 57 Y I ABSTRACT The invention disclosed is a device for weighing a patient confined in bed by using weight detectingelements or load cells disposed between each of the stan dard legs of the bed and the floor. The weight detecting elements are positioned in communication with a counting and indicating means for identification of the 31Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATIENT SCALES The weighing of patients and continual observing of I weight is of great importance in certain cases of'illness. Mechanical scale devices have been constructed which when fitted on the bed construction are as a whole voluminous, heavy and are clumsy in construction. To

remove these drawbacks, box-like power detecting eledevices being provided with rails on which the bed with wheels can be pushed for weighing. This involves the advantage that the bed need not be of any special type for the weighing. A drawback is, however, the rather voluminous apparatus which is difficult to move. Due to this the device is left in the same location, to which patients with beds are brought for weighing. This is, of course, inconvenient and it is not always possible to take this action, either.

It has now been found that by practice of thepresent inventions numerous above-described drawbacks of prior art devices are overcome by practice hereof which provides a simple patient weighing scales which involves several advantages in comparison with the well-known constructions described .briefly above. Generally stated, the present patient weighing scales comprise four weight detecting elements carrying the bed and a device for counting and indicating the total weight on the basis of the outlets of these detecting elements. The patient scales according to the invention are characterized in that the detecting elements are separate, flat .cells to be placed between the floor and the standard legs of the bed.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the attached drawing,

3 is fitted under each leg 1, so thereare four cells al-.

together. The cell outlets are connected with a device 'for counting and indicating the total weight. The measuring cells 3 may, regarding their operation principle, be hydraulic or electric. Each cell will measure the weight caused by the leg situated upon the cell; and these patient weight values, when combined, will indicate the total weight of the bedand patientFIG. 2 shows in greater detail that the measuring cell com-.

prises a pancake having an upper layer 4, middle layer 5, lower layer 6 and bottom 7. The purpose of the upper layer 4 is to concentrate the load 1, for which there is an incision for the leg 1 FIG. 2) and'for th)e wheel 2 of the leg 1 a concave 1n entation 8 (FIG. 4 As illustrated by FIG. 3 the incision or indentation may be situated on each side of the weighing cell, whereat it does not matter in which direction this cell is situated on the floor.

The middle layer5 will be pressed together which pressing together is used as a weight measure. The lowest layer 7 consists in the cases of FIGS. 2 and 4 of'a friction surface, which prevents the measuring cell from sliding too much on the floor.

As it appears from the foregoing description referring to the embodiments illustrated by the drawings,

the patient weighing scale according to the invention is very uncomplicated in construction. and has all neces sary requirements for producing an inexpensive device useful in hospitals. A bed with a special construction will not be needed, the patient can be weighed in any bed whatsoever. The device is also very light, so it can be transported from one place to another.

Being constantly in the measuring place, the scales according-to the invention occupies only a small place is effected by measuring cells, such as hydraulic pressure boxes connected by conduits with the device measuring and indicating the total weight, or electrical load cells connected as electronic weighing boxes.

I claim: l. A'patient weighing device which comprises, in combination, a bed having four legs, an individually removable weight detecting element disposed under each of said legs for supporting the bed, each ofsaid removable weight detecting elements having an upper layer, a middle layer and a lower layer, said upperlayer having a concave indentation and providing a load concentrating surface, said middle layer comprisingpressure weight measure means and-said lower layer comprising a support surface, said-removable weight detecting elements each in communication with a counting and indicating device for identification of weight of the bed detected by the weight detecting elements under the bed legs.

2. The patient weighing device of claim 1, wherein the weight detecting elements are electrical detecting elements.

3. The patient weighing device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of each weight detecting element".

opposite said upper layer consists'of a friction layer for decreased'sliding of the elements on the floor. 

1. A patient weighing device which comprises, in combination, a bed having four legs, an individually removable weight detecting element disposed under each of said legs for supporting the bed, each of said removable weight detecting elements having an upper layer, a middle layer and a lower layer, said upper layer having a concave indentation and providing a load concentrating surface, said middle layer comprising pressure weight measure means and said lower layer comprising a support surface, said removable weight detecting elements each in communication with a counting and indicating device for identification of weight of the bed detected by the weight detecting elements under the bed legs.
 2. The patient weighing device of claim 1, wherein the weight detecting elements are electrical detecting elements.
 3. The patient weighing device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of each weight detecting element opposite said upper layer consists of a friction layer for decreased sliding of the elements on the floor. 